Wire reeling device

ABSTRACT

A two-wheel trailer frame horizontally journals a reel in a parallel vertically spaced relation with respect to the trailer axle. The reel is rotated in response to forward movement of the trailer by a frame supported clutch frictionally engaging the periphery of one trailer wheel. Frame supported belt, pulley, chain and sprocket means, connected with the other end of the reel, reciprocate a wire guide transversely of the reel as the trailer is moved forwardly.

O United States Patent [151 3,642,224

Taylor 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] WIRE REELING DEVICE 830,239 9/1906Lingenfelter ..242/86.61 1,205,803 11/1916 Skjonhaug.... [72] Inventor.,gglsgob. Taylor, Box 5, Perryton, Tex. 1,317,108 9/1919 Skomia U1,753,503 4/1930 Colman [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1970 2,563,377 8/1951Schmidt..... [211 pp N 5 79 3,416,748 12/1968 Bliss ..242/l58 B PrimaryExaminer-Stanley N. Gilreath Related Apphcauon Dam AssistantExaminerMilton Gerstein [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 771,733,Oct. 30, AttorneyRobert K. Rhea 1968, abandoned.

[57] ABSTRACT '8' h gg2 A two-wheel trailer frame horizontally journalsa reel in a [58] i 62 86 63 parallel vertically spaced relation withrespect to the trailer 64 5 axle. The reel is rotated in response toforward movement of the trailer by a frame supported clutch frictionallyengaging the periphery of one trailer wheel. Frame supported belt, pul-[56] References Cited ley, chain and sprocket means, connected with theother end UNITED STATES PATENTS of the reel, reciprocate a wire guidetransversely of the reel as the trailer is moved forwardly. 511,54212/1893 Opper ..242/86.8

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENYEQFEB 15 I972 3.642.224

SHEET 1 OF 2 //v VEN rqp.

'2 JOHN D. TAYLOR I PAIENTEDFEMS I972 3,542,224

, sum 2 OF 2 FIG. 6

JOH N D. TAYLOR INVE'N TOR.

AGENT WIRE REELING DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Thepresent invention is a continuation-in-part of an application filed byme in the U.S. Patent Office under Ser. No. 771,733 on Oct. 30, 1968 forWIRE HANDLING DEVICE, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to wire handling and more particularly to a device forspooling or stringing a strand of wire along a fence row, or the like.

Wire handling, while building or dismantling fences surroundingrelatively small'tracts of land, usually presents no problem withrespect to the handling of the wire. When such a fence is dismantled ortorn down the wire is usually rolled up manually, however, in building,dismantling or moving fences on large estates, such as farms or ranches,comprising several sections of land, the quantity of wire used fills arelatively large reel or reels when wound thereon. Furthermore, the wireused on farms and ranches is usually barbed wire and is not as easilyhandled as is smooth wire.

The principal distinction of this invention over the above referred toapplication resides in the wire guiding or distributing features of thewire as it is wound on the reel.

2. Description of the Prior Art Wire reeling devices of this class aredisclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 601,827 and 886,160. Each of these patentsfeature a wire guide or distributor which is moved in a toandfro actionlongitudinally of the wire receiving reel by a pitman connected with aperipheral portion of a rotating wheel. I have found that such a pitmanactuating wire distributor has the failing of depositing adisproportionate number of convolutions of the wire at the respectiveend portions of the reel as a result of the pitman not moving the wireguide during the time the pitman traverses the are described by itsconnection with the actuating wheel when the wheel connected end of thepitman is at the respective limit of its travel on a diameter line ofthe wheel parallel with respect to the axis of the reel. When windingsmall quantities or lengths of wire this feature is not tooobjectionable but when reeling in relatively long lengths of wire, forexample, or more miles, the disproportionate buildup of the wire at therespective ends of the reel results in an undesirable distribution ofthe wire on the reel wherein the endmost convolutions fill the reelwhile the central portion thereof is not filled. Furthermore, theend-of-the-reel buildup of the wire convolutions increase the tendencyof the wire loops to crowd toward the center of the reel and becomeentangled. US. Pat. No. 2,759,683 discloses a wire reel devicecontrolled by a wheel engaging friction clutch. However, this patentdoes not disclose a wire distributing device for winding wire on a reel.

This invention, on the other hand, provides a simplified twowheeltrailerlike frame which journals a relatively large reel capable ofspooling a wire several miles in length thereon so that in operation,when towing this wire reeling device behind a pickup truck, the wire canbe spooled or released at a rate of travel of to miles per hour.Furthermore, this invention provides a wire distributing device whichmoves a wire guide in a to-and-fro action longitudinally of the reelwherein the guide direction of movement is reversed at the respectiveend of the reel with substantially no time delay in the reversingaction. The mass of the wire filling the reel is relatively large butthe filled reel is easily removed from the supporting trailer frame bypivoting one end of the trailer frame upwardly about the axis of itssupporting wheels to deposit the reel on the surface of the earth andsimilarly install an empty reel on the trailer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A two-wheel trailer frame adapted to be towed,in laterally offset trailing relation behind a vehicle, transverselysupports a flanged cylinder type reel in parallel elevated relation withrespect to its axle and wheels. Frictional clutch means removablymounted on the frame at one end of the reel rotates the reel in responseto the forward movement of the trailer by contact with the periphery ofone of the trailer wheels.

A wire spooling distributor is moved longitudinally of the reel by belt,pulley, chain and sprocket and gear means connected with the other endof the reel.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a trailer type wirereeling device having an improved wire distributor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thedevice;

FIG. 2 is a right-side elevational view,'to a reduced scale;

FIG. 3 is a left-side elevational view of the device illustrating, bysolid and dotted lines, the relative position of a fragmentary endportion of a towing vehicle pivoting the device to a wire loading andunloading position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, to a different scale, of oneflanged end of the wire reel illustrating the manner in which it issupported by the frame adjacent and above one wheel;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 including the wheel engaging reeldriving clutch means;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the driveconnection of the wire distributing means;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, to a different scale, of thewire guide drive; and,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, lookingin the direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Like characters of referencedesignate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which theyoccur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates the device, as a whole, comprising atwo-wheel trailer frame 12 having an axle 14 which journals wheels 15and 16, preferably having pneumatic tires, at its respective ends. Theforward end portion of the trailer frame is provided with a tongue 18having a trailer hitch 19 at its free forward end with the rearward endof the tongue pivotally connected with a frame cross brace 20 andremovably connected, intermediate its ends, by a bolt 22 to an arcuateyoke 24 for the purposes presently explained.

A screw-type jack 25 is rigidly connected to one side of the frame 12for horizontally supporting the frame and placing the tongue in trailerhitch connecting position when the device is idle. The frame 12 isprovided with standards 26 and 28 projecting upwardly from the positionof the axle l4 inwardly of the respective wheel 15 and I6 andterminating in a horizontal plane in spaced relation with respect to theperiphery of the wheels.

A wire holding reel of the flanged cylinder type is indicated generallyat 30 and comprises a pair of end members or flanges 32 and 34diametrically substantially equal with respect to the diameter of thewheels 15 and 16 and interconnected coaxially by a spindle 36surrounding and connected at the respective outer surface of each flangewith an axle 38. The respective end portions of the axle 38 arejournaled by bearings 40 and 42 respectively mounted on the upper end ofthe standards 26 and 28. Thus, the horizontal axis formed by the axle 38is spaced above the upper limit of the respective wheel 15 and 16.

Clutch means 45 drives the reel 30 in response to forward movement ofthe trailer. The clutch means 45 comprises a rectangular frame includingparallel interconnected side members 46 and 48 which overlie, at one endportion, a bar 50 horizontally interposed between the bearing 40 andupper end of the standard 26. The bar 50 laterally supports two pairs ofspaced-apart horizontally apertured parallel ears 52 so that bolts 54,cooperatively received by the apertured ears and clutch side members 46and 48, form a horizontal fulcrum point or axis for the clutch frame ashereinafter described.

The clutch 45 further includes a universal joint 56 which slidablyreceives a splined-end portion 58 of the adjacent end portion of thereel axle 38. The other end of the universal joint is coaxiallyconnected with a stub shaft 60 joumaled by a bearing 62 at the end ofthe clutch frame opposite the universal joint. A clutch wheel, having aconcave periphery formed by a plurality of circularly arranged inwardlybowed spaced-apart stavelike members 64, are connected in longitudinalparallel coaxial relation to the stub shaft 60. The concave are, definedby the outer surface of the respective stave members 64, is complementalwith respect to the transverse surface of the periphery of the wheel 15.The arcuate surface of revolution, generated by the bowed concavesurface of the staves 64, is maintained in frictional driving andslipping contact with respect to the periphery of the wheel by adjustingscrews 66 extending through the respective end of the clutch framemembers 46 and 48 and forcibly contacting the bar 50 to fulcrum theclutch frame, toward and away from the wheel 15, about the horizontalaxis of the bolts 54.

A cross member 70, extending transversely of the frame 12, includesuprights 72 and 74 at its respective ends, terminating, respectively, inupstanding angle iron members 76 and 77 which journal a wire supportingroller 78 parallel with the reel spindle 36 by bearings 79. The roller78 forms a support for wire, not shown, being wound on the reel 30. Anupstanding elongated shunting lever or wire distributing arm 80 ispivotally connected to the cross brace 70 medially its ends. Thedistributor am 80 supports, by its upwardly disposed end, a pair ofroller guides 82 arranged in parallel relation and journaled by parallelrods.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, a drive for the distributorarm 80 is provided comprising a belt and pulley means 83 which includesa pulley 84 coaxially connected to and supported by one shaft 93 of agear train in turn connected to the upper end portion of the upright 74;a drive pulley 86 on the reel axle 38 at that end opposite the clutchmeans 45; a pulley 88 on the adjacent end of the wire roller 78 and anidler pulley 90 supported by the frame with a belt 92, or the like,entrained around the respective pulleys 84,86, 88 and 90 so that thepulleys 84 and 88 are driven in the same direction of rotation as thereel 30. The gear train 94 is provided with a second shaft 95 at rightangle with respect to its shaft 93. The shaft 95 is coaxially connectedto a sprocket 96 aligned with and connected to a driven sprocket 98 by achain 100. The driven sprocket 98 is mounted above the cross brace 70 onthe rearward side of an upstanding sprocket support bracket 102.

First and second pairs of sprockets 104 and 106, respectively, aremounted on the forward vertical face of the sprocket support bracket 102in face to face aligned relation. The first pair of sprockets 104 isarranged in vertical spaced relation while the second or center pair ofsprockets 106 is arranged in horizontal spaced relation and opposinglaterally paced relation with respect to the center of a vertical linethrough the axes of the first pair of sprockets 104. Diametrically theend or second pair of sprockets 106 are relatively small for thepurposes presently apparent while the diameter of each of the other pairof sprockets 104 is substantially greater than the diameter of thesprockets 106. An endless chain 108 is entrained around the respectivepairs of sprockets 104 and 106 substantially defining a diamond-shapedconfiguration with the major axis of the diamond-shaped parallel withrespect to the axis of the reel spindle 36. One of the pairs ofsprockets 104, for example the lower one, is mounted on a shaft 1 10extending through the sprocket bracket 102 and coaxially connected withthe driven sprocket 98 so that as the driven sprocket 98 is rotated bythe chain 100, the chain 108 is caused to travel in the same directionof rotation. A pitman 112 has one end thereof pivotally connected withone of the chain links on the forward side of the chain 108. The otherend of the pitman 112 is pivotally connected to an intermediate portionof the distributor arm 80. Thus, as the reel is rotated by forwardmovement of the device the belt, pulley,

chain and sprocket means moves the chain connected end of the pitman, inthe diamond-shaped path formed by the chain 108, wherein the movement ofthe chain connected end of the pitman, around the relatively small arcof the circumference of the respective lateral sprockets 106, results ina change or reversing direction of the pitman movement so that the wireguide rollers 82 hesitate or stop at the respective end of the reel 30,a period of time less than the time required for a complete revolutionof the reel. The size of the vertically spaced first pair of sprockets104 and their spaced-apart relation is selected to coordinate the rateof movement of the distributor arm 80 throughout the longitudinalcentral portion of the reel so that the distribution of the wire on thereel is substantially equal to the convolutions being wound on the endportions of the reel. Obviously, a single sprocket of a selected sizemay be used in place of the pair of sprockets 104.

OPERATION In a loose wire spooling operation assume, a string of loosewire of l or more miles in length is lying beside a fence row. Thetrailer tongue 18 is pivoted to approximately the dotted line positionof FIG. 1 and the hitch 19 is connected with a trailer hitch ball, notshown, preferably attached to the leftend portion of a pickup truckbumper. This positions the device 10 in a lateral left-side or offsettrailing position with respect to the direction of travel of the pickuptruck so that the pickup truck may be driven along and in parallelspaced relation with respect to the position of the wire to be spooledso that the device 10 is substantially aligned, in a direction oftravel, longitudinally of the wire. Furthermore, this permits the driverto more easily observe the spooling action so that he may stop the truckin the even of any malfunction. A free or beginning end of the wire ismanually positioned between the distributor bar rollers 82, over theroller 78 and attached to the spindle 36 of the reel 30. The clutch 45is adjusted by the screws 66 so that the clutch wheel engages thetrailer wheel 15 to rotate the reel 30. The frictional engagementbetween the clutch 45 and the periphery of the wheel 15 is such that theclutch will slip to compensate for differences in the rate in rotationof the reel with respect to the wheels 15 and 16, for example, when thewire winding is initially begun on the spindle 36 the rate of rotationof the reel is relatively fast because of the small diameter of thespindle as compared to the necessary rate of rotation of the reel 30after the wire has substantially filled the reel 30 and thesubstantially cylindrical surface, formed by the wound up wire, issubstantially greater than the surface of the spindle 36. During thewire spooling action the distributor bar 80 is moved by theabove-described belt, pulley, chain and sprocket means, transversely ofthe reel in a to-and-fro action as the device 10 is towed along a fencerow thereby filling or substantially filling the space between the reelflanges 32 and 34.

It is sometimes desirable to deposit a wire filled reel .30 and replaceit with an empty one for spooling other wire. As shown more clearly inFIG. 3, this is accomplished by temporarily supporting the tongue 18 bythe stand or jack 25 and pivotally connecting an elongated member suchas a length of angle iron 1 14 to one end portion of a pickup truckbumper 116 and to a forward end portion of the trailer frame 12.Thereafter the pickup truck, indicated fragmentarily at 118, is backedtoward the device 10 so that the forward end portion of the trailerframe 12 pivots upwardly about the horizontal axis formed by its wheels15 and 16 to the position shown by dotted lines. Thus the truck, throughthe member 114, supports the mass of the spooled wire during thismovement. When the device 10 is rotated to its dotted line position ofFIG. 3, the bearings 40 and 42 are disconnected from the standards 26and 28 and another empty reel, now shown, replaces the reel 30. Forwardmovement of the pickup truck then pivots the device to a normal towingposition.

Unspooling or paying out wire wound on the reel, for fence building, isaccomplished by simply attaching the free end of the spooled wire to afence post, not shown, positioned rearwardly of the device and truck,and driving the pickup truck along the fence row. Prior to the beginningof the paying out action of the wire the clutch means is adjusted forrelatively loose contact with the wheel to increase the tension on 5 thewire and insure that the reel does not release the wire at a rategreater than the speed of the truck.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to changes or alterations withoutdefeating its practicability, therefore, I do not wish to be confined tothe preferred embodiment shown in the 10 drawings and described herein.

1 claim:

1. A wire reeling device, comprising:

a trailerlike frame having a cross brace and having a transverse axle atits rearward end journaling a pair of support- 15 ing wheels;

reel means comprising a spindle having a coaxial flange at itsrespective ends and having a shaft projecting coaxially outward from therespective flange and horizontally journaled by said frame on atransverse axis spaced above the upper limit of said wheels, thediameter of said flanges being equal to the diameter of said wheels;

clutch means supported by said frame in frictional contact with aperipheral portion ofone said wheels and drivably connected with saidreel means;

wire distributing means mounted on said frame,

said wire distributing means including an elongated upstanding armpivotally connected at its depending end to an intermediate portion ofsaid cross brace, a wire guide means connected with the upper endportion of said arm, a bracket transversely mounted on one end portionof said cross brace, a plurality of cooperatingly aligned sprocketsmounted on said bracket, a pitman drive chain entrained around saidsprockets and describing an elongated substantially diamond-shaped pathwith the major axis of the diamond-shape parallel with the axis of saidreel means, a pitman connected at one end with an intermediate portionof said arm and connected at its other end with an intermediate portionof said pitman drive chain; and, belt and pulley means drivablyconnecting said reel means with at least one of said plurality ofsprockets. 2. Structure as specified in claim 1 in which said wiredistributing means further includes:

sprockets includes:

a first pair of vertically spaced sprockets; and, a second pair ofrelatively small diameter sprockets horizontally spaced-apart laterallyof a line taken through the axis of said first pair of sprockets adistance greater than the diameter of said first pair of sprockets. 4.Structure as specified in claim 3 and further including: a pair of earsfixed on said trailer frame on diametrically opposite sides of one endportion of said reel shaft, said clutch means further including a clutchframe pivotally connected with and between said ears and projectingoutwardly beyond a vertical plane defined by the adjacent said wheel forvertical pivoting movement of said clutch frame toward and away from aperipheral portion of said wheel, I

a stub shaft journaled by said clutch frame coaxial with and connectedat one end portion to said reel shaft, and

clutch roller means coaxially connected with said stub shaft within saidclutch frame.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4 in which said clutch roller meanscomlprises:

a plurality of e ongated slatlike members connected in radial andcircumferentially spaced relation with said stub shaft, each saidslatlike member being arcuately bowed inwardly throughout its lengthtoward said stub shaft forming a concave cylindrical surface conformingto the transverse surface of an arc of the periphery of said wheel.

1. A wire reeling device, comprising: a trailerlike frame having a crossbrace and having a transverse axle at its rearward end journaling a pairof supporting wheels; reel means comprising a spindle having a coaxialflange at its respective ends and having a shaft projecting coaxiallyoutward from the respective flange and horizontally journaled by saidframe on a transverse axis spaced above the upper limit of said wheels,the diameter of said flanges being equal to the diameter of said wheels;clutch means supported by said frame in frictional contact with aperipheral portion of one said wheels and drivably connected with saidreel means; wire distributing means mounted on said frame, said wiredistributing means including an elongated upstanding arm pivotallyconnected at its depending end to an intermediate portion of said crossbrace, a wire guide means connected with the upper end portion of saidarm, a bracket transversely mounted on one end portion of said crossbrace, a plurality of cooperatingly aligned sprockets mounted on saidbracket, a pitman drive chain entrained around said sprockets anddescribing an elongated substantially diamond-shaped path with the majoraxis of the diamond-shape parallel with the axis of said reel means, apitman connected at one end with an intermediate portion of said arm andconnected at its other end with an intermediate portion of said pitmandrive chain; and, belt and pulley means drivably connecting said reelmeans with at least one of said plurality of sprockets.
 2. Structure asspecified in claim 1 in which said wire distributing means furtherincludes: an elongated roller journaled by said frame in a horizontalplane spaced above and parallel with respect to the horizontal axis ofsaid reel means, said wire guide means comprising a pair of upstandinglaterally spaced-apart roller guides mounted on the upper end of saidarm and projecting in offset relation above and below the axis of saidelongated roller.
 3. Structure as specified in claim 2 in which saidplurality of sprockets includes: a first pair of vertically spacedsprockets; and, a second pair of relatively small diameter sprocketshorizontally spaced-apart laterally of a line taken through the axis ofsaid first pair of sprockets a distance greater than the diameter ofsaid first pair of sprockets.
 4. Structure as specified in claim 3 andfurther including: a pair of ears fixed on said trailer frame ondiametrically opposite sides of one end portion of said reel shaft, saidclutch means further including a clutch frame pivotally connected withand between said ears and projecting outwardly beyond a vertical planedefined by the adjacent said wheel for vertical pivoting movement ofsaid clutch frame toward and away from a peripheral portion of saidwheel, a stub shaft journaled by said clutch frame coaxial with andconnected at one end portion to said reel shaft, and clutch roller meanscoaxially connected with said stub shaft within said clutch frame. 5.Structure as specified in claim 4 in which said clutch roller meanscomprises: a plurality of elongated slatlike members connected in radialand circumferentially spaced relation with said stub shaft, each saidslatlike member being arcuately bowed inwardly throughout its lengthtoward said stub shaft forming a concave cylindrical surface conformingto the transverse surface of an arc of the periphery of said wheel.